Arrest made in trooper's shooting

Updated 10:00 pm, Sunday, February 14, 2010

LONG BEACH, Wash. - The State Patrol says a person arrested Monday morning is now a suspect in Saturday's shooting of Trooper Scott Johnson in Long Beach.

A 45-year-old man from Seaview, Wash., was arrested for investigation of attempted murder and assault, and is now booked into the Pacific County Jail, said Robert Calkins with the State Patrol.

He was arrested in Long Beach early Monday morning. Calkins says investigators are now seeking search warrants for locations that might be relevant to the case.

Calkins stressed that while they have a suspect, their investigation is still ongoing and they need tips regarding the suspect's associates, cars, firearms and any buildings he was connected with.

Meanwhile, there was good news to report on Johnson's health: The trooper was released from a Portland hospital Monday afternoon. Trooper Krista Hedstrom said Johnson still has bullet fragments in his head, and doctors are still deciding whether they can be removed.

As the police investigation continues, the trooper's family is speaking out about the traumatic event.

Scott's mother Linda Johnson said she couldn't believe it what happened to her son.

"He said, 'Mom, I've been shot in the head,' " Linda Johnson said. "I feel that he thought he was going to die. I really do."

The State Patrol says Scott Johnson was working a drunken driving case in Long Beach when a man walked up, started an argument, and then shot him twice, including once in the head.

"I love my Dad very much," said Scott Johnson's son Derek, "and he's one of the most honest men I've met in my entire life and he does not deserve this."

Dozens of officers spent Sunday going house-to-house all throughout the Long Beach peninsula tracking down leads. Investigators consider this an ambush, and believe Johnson was chosen at random.

"My whole life I knew my Dad's job; I knew the risks that were entailed to that job," Derek Johnson said. "But it wasn't a reality until now."

Trooper Johnson is a 25-year veteran of the State Patrol. He has worked in the Pacific County area his entire career, but did not recognize the shooter.

A $26,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-283-7808 toll-free in Washington state. Anyone calling from outside Washington is asked to dial 1-360-405-6650 until a toll-free number can be established for out-of-state calls.

State Patrol officials said they have been surprised at the number of tips coming in from Oregon, and are working to expand the coverage area of the existing 800-line.

"If you live in Oregon and tried to call in a tip, please try again at our new number. We very much want to hear from you," said State Patrol Capt. Steve Sutton.